Exploration

Lynn associate dean helps push the 911 Good Samaritan Act

“Fear of law enforcement is the main reason people don't call 911 in an overdose situation,” said Lynn associate dean and PBSO detective

Published Feb. 01, 2011

Gary Martin, associate dean for student life at Lynn University and local homicide detective at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), has been working with PBSO and state representative Mackenson "Mack" Bernard (Democrat-West Palm Beach), toward the new Florida House Representatives Bill #91 – called the 911 Good Samaritan Act – that would provide limited immunity from drug-possession charges when a drug-related overdose victim or a witness to an overdose seeks medical assistance.

“Fear of law enforcement is the main reason people don't call 911,” said Martin in a Sun Sentinel article. “What we're hoping to do is organize a public-awareness campaign. In an overdose situation, don't concern yourself about getting arrested.”

“This proposed legislation may literally save a few lives,” he says. “This initiative is an expansion of our (Lynn University) Amnesty Policy. It is simply intended to get the panicking overdose witness to pick up the telephone and call 911 without fear of law enforcement.”

In December, Martin presented on the topic of drug overdose death and criminal poisonings at the 6th Annual Florida Homicide Investigators Conference in West Palm Beach.

More on Martin:

Gary Martin, associate dean for student life at Lynn University, keeps a busy schedule. When not overseeing the university’s student wellness office, Martin is also a local homicide detective and a 1976 “Guinness Book of World Records” yo-yo champ.

Martin, a homicide detective who investigates drug-related deaths for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, works closely with students and is knowledgeable on the topic of depression and suicidal thoughts among college students. Martin also has experience helping parents process the loss of their children. Annually, he organizes the Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (N.O.P.E.) National Candle Light Vigil on Lynn's campus.

Martin is available to speak to the media regarding college students and addiction, specifically the rising concern of prescription drug abuses on campuses across the nation. He can also speak about depression and suicidal thoughts among college students, drug overdose death, rising concern of prescription drug abuses and addiction (as a disease).